In society today, we tend to assume that bigger is always better. This may be true for some things, like roller coasters, quarterbacks, and buffets, but the same concept doesn’t apply to law firms.
Small law firms are generally referred to as boutique firms, while large ones are called regional or national firms depending on the size.
Manageable Caseloads
Boutique firms take on fewer cases at a time than regional and national firms. This means that the attorneys have more time, resources, and energy to give clients the attention they need. As a result, relationships between these lawyers and their clientele are personal and comfortable, whereas stepping into a large corporate building can be intimidating and impersonal. This level of familiarity allows for a deeper understanding of the case at hand, and exactly what needs to be done to achieve the desired outcome.
Small firms tend to be more aggressive in pushing cases forward for clients as well. Large firms with thousands of clients can’t afford to try lawsuits for “small” claims- those where less money is at stake- because their overhead is large. Because of the economics of running a large law firm, they lose money if they can’t settle cases quickly and as a result, they are more likely to settle for pennies on the dollar rather than fight for a fair settlement. Recovering 70 or 80 percent of a client’s losses is pretty good business if you have thousands of clients, but lousy business for the client who got less than their full recovery!
A big firm is also more apt to pass you and your case around between different lawyers and paralegals. Each time your case gets transferred to an office, the new attorney has to learn your case from the start. With a small firm, you know your attorney and support team from beginning to end!
Expertise
Have you ever heard the phrase, “jack of all trades, master of none”? The saying describes the level of expertise you will find at general practice firms. The lawyers dabble in a wide array of practice areas, but do not specialize in any of them. Lawyers aren’t allowed to call themselves “specialists” in Missouri, but common sense tells us that if you practice in the same area every day, you learn things that you can’t know doing one or two matters of a specific nature.
Small law firms usually have a few practice areas that they are highly experienced in, and have knowledge from this day-to-day work. When you have a case, it’s always better to have an attorney that can confidently call themselves a pro.
Trial lawyers are very specialized and if your lawyer doesn’t have the time or experience to go to trial, they can’t force the insurance company to pay you fairly. Insurance companies know this too, and who you hire to represent you is a factor that goes into their decision of how much to pay. If you need help filing a personal injury lawsuit, you don’t want to be represented by someone who has never had to go to trial- you want legal services from someone who knows all of the complex details and legal processes involved inside and out.
Ask Questions
Even when turning to a small firm for legal advice and services, it’s a good idea to ask your attorney questions before deciding to hire.
- Have you worked with a lot of cases like mine?
- If the attorney isn’t experienced with cases like yours, walk out the door!
- What practice areas do you specialize in?
- Knowing your lawyer’s focus area will give you peace of mind.
- How many years of experience do you have?
- Hospitals don’t let new graduates do complicated procedures and you shouldn’t let inexperienced lawyers handle your most important case.
- How much time can you dedicate to my case?
- The answer to this question will let you know if the attorney has a hefty caseload.
- What is your trial success rate?
- This can be misleading as a lawyer who has never lost a case hasn’t tried very many! Easy cases settle and the best trial lawyers are willing to try a difficult case, even though they are more likely to lose. A lawyer with a lot of jury trials under their belts, even with some losses, that is still in practice is more valuable than a lawyer who has never lost a case but only tried a few.
Our firm is small by design, with almost three decades of experience working with personal injury law. We are St. Louis based, providing legal services for injury victims in Missouri and Illinois. We also provide free initial consultations, and do not charge any legal fees until we’ve won you the financial compensation you deserve. We have settled countless cases regarding workers’ compensation, nursing home abuse, defective products, medical malpractice, discrimination, wrongful death, car accident injuries, and more. If it involves personal injury, which includes injuries to the body, mind, or emotions, we’re all over it.